Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guide: Design Recommendations

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Date 3/28/2022
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Document Table of Contents
Document Table of Contents x
1. Recommended HDL Coding Styles 2. Recommended Design Practices 3. Managing Metastability with the Intel® Quartus® Prime Software 4. Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guide: Design Recommendations Archive A. Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guides
1. Recommended HDL Coding Styles x
1.1. Using Provided HDL Templates 1.2. Instantiating IP Cores in HDL 1.3. Inferring Multipliers and DSP Functions 1.4. Inferring Memory Functions from HDL Code 1.5. Register and Latch Coding Guidelines 1.6. General Coding Guidelines 1.7. Designing with Low-Level Primitives 1.8. Recommended HDL Coding Styles Revision History
1.1. Using Provided HDL Templates x
1.1.1. Inserting HDL Code from a Provided Template
1.3. Inferring Multipliers and DSP Functions x
1.3.1. Inferring Multipliers 1.3.2. Inferring Multiply-Accumulator and Multiply-Adder Functions
1.4. Inferring Memory Functions from HDL Code x
1.4.1. Inferring RAM functions from HDL Code 1.4.2. Inferring ROM Functions from HDL Code 1.4.3. Inferring Shift Registers in HDL Code 1.4.4. Inferring FIFOs in HDL Code
1.4.1. Inferring RAM functions from HDL Code x
1.4.1.1. Use Synchronous Memory Blocks 1.4.1.2. Avoid Unsupported Reset and Control Conditions 1.4.1.3. Check Read-During-Write Behavior 1.4.1.4. Controlling RAM Inference and Implementation 1.4.1.5. Single-Clock Synchronous RAM with Old Data Read-During-Write Behavior 1.4.1.6. Single-Clock Synchronous RAM with New Data Read-During-Write Behavior 1.4.1.7. Simple Dual-Port, Dual-Clock Synchronous RAM 1.4.1.8. True Dual-Port Synchronous RAM 1.4.1.9. Mixed-Width Dual-Port RAM 1.4.1.10. RAM with Byte-Enable Signals 1.4.1.11. Specifying Initial Memory Contents at Power-Up
1.4.3. Inferring Shift Registers in HDL Code x
1.4.3.1. Simple Shift Register 1.4.3.2. Shift Register with Evenly Spaced Taps
1.4.4. Inferring FIFOs in HDL Code x
1.4.4.1. Dual Clock FIFO Example in Verilog HDL 1.4.4.2. Dual Clock FIFO Timing Constraints
1.5. Register and Latch Coding Guidelines x
1.5.1. Register Power-Up Values 1.5.2. Secondary Register Control Signals Such as Clear and Clock Enable 1.5.3. Latches
1.5.1. Register Power-Up Values x
1.5.1.1. Specifying a Power-Up Value
1.5.3. Latches x
1.5.3.1. Avoid Unintentional Latch Generation VHDL Code Preventing Unintentional Latch Creation 1.5.3.2. Inferring Latches Correctly
1.6. General Coding Guidelines x
1.6.1. Tri-State Signals 1.6.2. Clock Multiplexing 1.6.3. Adder Trees 1.6.4. State Machine HDL Guidelines 1.6.5. Multiplexer HDL Guidelines 1.6.6. Cyclic Redundancy Check Functions 1.6.7. Comparator HDL Guidelines 1.6.8. Counter HDL Guidelines
1.6.3. Adder Trees x
1.6.3.1. Architectures with 6-Input LUTs in Adaptive Logic Modules
1.6.4. State Machine HDL Guidelines x
1.6.4.1. State Machine Power-Up 1.6.4.2. Verilog HDL State Machines 1.6.4.3. VHDL State Machines
1.6.4.2. Verilog HDL State Machines x
1.6.4.2.1. Verilog-2001 State Machine Coding Example 1.6.4.2.2. SystemVerilog State Machine Coding Example
1.6.4.3. VHDL State Machines x
1.6.4.3.1. VHDL State Machine Coding Example
1.6.5. Multiplexer HDL Guidelines x
1.6.5.1. Intel® Quartus® Prime Software Option for Multiplexer Restructuring 1.6.5.2. Multiplexer Types 1.6.5.3. Implicit Defaults in IF Statements 1.6.5.4. default or OTHERS CASE Assignment
1.6.5.2. Multiplexer Types x
1.6.5.2.1. Binary Multiplexers 1.6.5.2.2. Selector Multiplexers 1.6.5.2.3. Priority Multiplexers
1.6.6. Cyclic Redundancy Check Functions x
1.6.6.1. If Performance is Important, Optimize for Speed 1.6.6.2. Use Separate CRC Blocks Instead of Cascaded Stages 1.6.6.3. Use Separate CRC Blocks Instead of Allowing Blocks to Merge 1.6.6.4. Take Advantage of Latency if Available 1.6.6.5. Save Power by Disabling CRC Blocks When Not in Use 1.6.6.6. Initialize the Device with the Synchronous Load (sload) Signal
2. Recommended Design Practices x
2.1. Following Synchronous FPGA Design Practices 2.2. HDL Design Guidelines 2.3. Use Clock and Register-Control Architectural Features 2.4. Implementing Embedded RAM 2.5. Design Assistant Design Rule Checking 2.6. Recommended Design Practices Revision History
2.1. Following Synchronous FPGA Design Practices x
2.1.1. Implementing Synchronous Designs 2.1.2. Asynchronous Design Hazards
2.2. HDL Design Guidelines x
2.2.1. Considerations for the Intel® Hyperflex™ FPGA Architecture 2.2.2. Optimizing Combinational Logic 2.2.3. Optimizing Clocking Schemes 2.2.4. Optimizing Physical Implementation and Timing Closure 2.2.5. Optimizing Power Consumption 2.2.6. Managing Design Metastability
2.2.2. Optimizing Combinational Logic x
2.2.2.1. Avoid Combinational Loops 2.2.2.2. Avoid Unintended Latch Inference 2.2.2.3. Avoid Delay Chains in Clock Paths 2.2.2.4. Use Synchronous Pulse Generators
2.2.3. Optimizing Clocking Schemes x
2.2.3.1. Register Combinational Logic Outputs 2.2.3.2. Avoid Asynchronous Clock Division 2.2.3.3. Avoid Ripple Counters 2.2.3.4. Use Multiplexed Clocks 2.2.3.5. Use Gated Clocks 2.2.3.6. Use Synchronous Clock Enables
2.2.3.5. Use Gated Clocks x
2.2.3.5.1. Recommended Clock-Gating Methods
2.2.4. Optimizing Physical Implementation and Timing Closure x
2.2.4.1. Planning Physical Implementation 2.2.4.2. Planning FPGA Resources 2.2.4.3. Optimizing for Timing Closure 2.2.4.4. Optimizing Critical Timing Paths
2.3. Use Clock and Register-Control Architectural Features x
2.3.1. Use Global Reset Resources 2.3.2. Use Global Clock Network Resources 2.3.3. Use Clock Region Assignments to Optimize Clock Constraints 2.3.4. Avoid Asynchronous Register Control Signals
2.3.1. Use Global Reset Resources x
2.3.1.1. Use Synchronous Resets 2.3.1.2. Using Asynchronous Resets 2.3.1.3. Use Synchronized Asynchronous Reset
2.3.3. Use Clock Region Assignments to Optimize Clock Constraints x
2.3.3.1. Clock Region Assignments in Intel® Stratix® 10 Devices 2.3.3.2. Clock Region Assignments in Intel® Arria® 10 and Older Device Families
2.5. Design Assistant Design Rule Checking x
2.5.1. Setting Up Design Assistant 2.5.2. Running Design Assistant During Compilation 2.5.3. Running Design Assistant in Analysis Mode 2.5.4. Cross-Probing from Design Assistant 2.5.5. Managing Design Assistant Rules 2.5.6. Design Assistant Rule Categories
2.5.1. Setting Up Design Assistant x
2.5.1.1. Design Assistant Rule Severity Levels
2.5.2. Running Design Assistant During Compilation x
2.5.2.1. Opening Design Assistant Rule Help
2.5.3. Running Design Assistant in Analysis Mode x
2.5.3.1. Launching Design Assistant from Chip Planner 2.5.3.2. Launching Design Assistant from Timing Analyzer
2.5.4. Cross-Probing from Design Assistant x
2.5.4.1. Cross-Probing from Design Assistant to Timing Analyzer 2.5.4.2. Cross-Probing from Design Assistant to Visualization Tools
2.5.5. Managing Design Assistant Rules x
2.5.5.1. Changing the Default Number of Violations per Rule 2.5.5.2. Enabling Rules for Specific Compiler Stages 2.5.5.3. Specifying Rule Parameters for a Specific Compiler Stage 2.5.5.4. Modifying Rule Severity Levels 2.5.5.5. Waiving Design Assistant Rules 2.5.5.6. Design Assistant Tags
2.5.5.5. Waiving Design Assistant Rules x
2.5.5.5.1. Creating Design Assistant Waivers 2.5.5.5.2. Deleting Design Assistant Waivers 2.5.5.5.3. Design Assistant Waiver Tcl Commands
2.5.5.5.1. Creating Design Assistant Waivers x
2.5.5.5.1.1. Design Assistant Waiver Dialog Box
2.5.5.5.3. Design Assistant Waiver Tcl Commands x
2.5.5.5.3.1. drc::add_waiver Command 2.5.5.5.3.2. drc::get_waivers Command 2.5.5.5.3.3. drc::report_waivers Command
3. Managing Metastability with the Intel® Quartus® Prime Software x
3.1. Metastability Analysis in the Intel® Quartus® Prime Software 3.2. Metastability and MTBF Reporting 3.3. MTBF Optimization 3.4. Reducing Metastability Effects 3.5. Scripting Support 3.6. Managing Metastability 3.7. Managing Metastability with the Intel® Quartus® Prime Software Revision History
3.1. Metastability Analysis in the Intel® Quartus® Prime Software x
3.1.1. Data Synchronization Register Chains 3.1.2. Identify Synchronizers for Metastability Analysis 3.1.3. How Timing Constraints Affect Synchronizer Identification and Metastability Analysis
3.2. Metastability and MTBF Reporting x
3.2.1. Metastability Reports 3.2.2. Synchronizer Data Toggle Rate in MTBF Calculation
3.2.1. Metastability Reports x
3.2.1.1. MTBF Summary Report 3.2.1.2. Synchronizer Summary Report 3.2.1.3. Synchronizer Chain Statistics Report in the Timing Analyzer
3.2.1.1. MTBF Summary Report x
3.2.1.1.1. Typical and Worst-Case MTBF of Design 3.2.1.1.2. Synchronizer Chains 3.2.1.1.3. Increasing Available Settling Time
3.3. MTBF Optimization x
3.3.1. Synchronization Register Chain Length
3.4. Reducing Metastability Effects x
3.4.1. Apply Complete System-Centric Timing Constraints for the Timing Analyzer 3.4.2. Force the Identification of Synchronization Registers 3.4.3. Set the Synchronizer Data Toggle Rate 3.4.4. Optimize Metastability During Fitting 3.4.5. Increase the Length of Synchronizers to Protect and Optimize 3.4.6. Increase the Number of Stages Used in Synchronizers 3.4.7. Select a Faster Speed Grade Device
3.5. Scripting Support x
3.5.1. Identifying Synchronizers for Metastability Analysis 3.5.2. Synchronizer Data Toggle Rate in MTBF Calculation 3.5.3. report_metastability and Tcl Command 3.5.4. MTBF Optimization 3.5.5. Synchronization Register Chain Length
1. Recommended HDL Coding Styles
2. Recommended Design Practices
3. Managing Metastability with the Intel® Quartus® Prime Software
4. Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guide: Design Recommendations Archive
A. Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guides

1.5.3.1. Avoid Unintentional Latch Generation

When you design combinational logic, certain coding styles can create an unintentional latch. For example, when CASE or IF statements do not cover all possible input conditions, synthesis tools can infer latches to hold the output if a new output value is not assigned. Check your synthesis tool messages for references to inferred latches.

If your code unintentionally creates a latch, modify your RTL to remove the latch:

  • Synthesis infers a latch when HDL code assigns a value to a signal outside of a clock edge (for example, with an asynchronous reset), but the code does not assign a value in an edge-triggered design block.
  • Unintentional latches also occur when HDL code assigns a value to a signal in an edge-triggered design block, but synthesis optimizations remove that logic. For example, when a CASE or IF statement tests a condition that only evaluates to FALSE, synthesis removes any logic or signal assignment in that statement during optimization. This optimization may result in the inference of a latch for the signal.
  • Omitting the final ELSE or WHEN OTHERS clause in an IF or CASE statement can also generate a latch. Don’t care (X) assignments on the default conditions are useful in preventing latch generation. For the best logic optimization, assign the default CASE or final ELSE value to don’t care (X) instead of a logic value.

In Verilog HDL designs, use the full_case attribute to treat unspecified cases as don’t care values (X). However, since the full_case attribute is synthesis-only, it can cause simulation mismatches, because simulation tools still treat the unspecified cases as latches.

VHDL Code Preventing Unintentional Latch Creation

Without the final ELSE clause, the following code creates unintentional latches to cover the remaining combinations of the SEL inputs. When you are targeting a Stratix® series device with this code, omitting the final ELSE condition can cause synthesis tools to use up to six LEs, instead of the three it uses with the ELSE statement. Additionally, assigning the final ELSE clause to 1 instead of X can result in slightly more LEs, because synthesis tools cannot perform as much optimization when you specify a constant value as opposed to a don’t care value. 

LIBRARY ieee;
USE IEEE.std_logic_1164.all;

ENTITY nolatch IS
	PORT (a,b,c: IN STD_LOGIC;
		sel: IN STD_LOGIC_VECTOR (4 DOWNTO 0);
		oput: OUT STD_LOGIC);
END nolatch;

ARCHITECTURE rtl OF nolatch IS
BEGIN
	PROCESS (a,b,c,sel) BEGIN
		IF sel = "00000" THEN
			oput <= a;
		ELSIF sel = "00001" THEN
			oput <= b;
		ELSIF sel = "00010" THEN
			oput <= c;
		ELSE 				  --- Prevents latch inference
			oput <= 'X'; --/
		END IF;
	END PROCESS;
END rtl;
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